A modest day in rural New Zealand

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Geo: -45.8746, 170.503

Tonight we're at Larnach Castle in Dunedin after waking this morning in Te Anau on the west coast of the southern island. We rose to a cloudless sky over Lake Te Anau (forgive the constant weather reports but we so appreciate the sun after the rainy beginning to our vacation), breakfasted with the other patrons at the Shakespeare House ("Eggs Benni with Salmon"😉, and headed south by about 9 AM. We drove as far south as the little hilly road would carry us, straight to a DOC trailhead that departed from private property, followed a skinny trail through the dense jungle vegetation, and emerged on the other side at the Tasman Sea. The coast was comprised of white, fist-sized rocks in perfect spheres that crashed together with each turn of the waves in a deep, gravely gurgling sound. Just music. Bummed at not seeing the promised Hectors Dolphins frolicking in the surf, we returned to the car.

Later, we pulled off the side of the road at a farm just outside of Invercargill for a tour of an authentic New Zealand sheep farm. The two weathered old gentlemen we spoke to warmed especially to Sean, being the son of a dairy farmer in Idaho. Les gave us a sheep herding demonstration with 2 dogs--his best girl Nell, and male dog, Dan, which was really impressive. A good sheep dog around here will cost you $4,000, he said. Then we even got to shear a sheep and have some wool bits to prove it. Yep, an authentic New Zealand experience.

After the Milford Sound nature cruise yesterday, the glow worm caves late last night in Te Anau, and all that we've done today, not the least of which was nearly 5 hours in the car to get around the southern tip of the island, we're beat. Pictures will be added to this and previous entries tomorrow, as there's no access to a USB port from this computer. Hope all is well with you all. Thank you all for your comments. They make us smile and we miss you all. Love, Erin and Sean

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Photos

Sean's turn
The Waiau Downs sheep farm outside of Invercargill

Shearing sheep!
Now here's an experience you don't have everyday! (Well, I don't anyway...)